What to Do If You're Planning on Going to University and Your A-level Results Aren't Up to Target

Sitting exams might seem like months ago but A-level results day (13th August) is just around the corner. Even though we hope that everyone gets
the results they want, we know that sometimes things don’t go as
planned. Here at Tutor Doctor we want to make sure you’re prepared,
especially if you’re planning on going to university and didn’t
quite get the UCAS points you needed. Remember you’re not alone
and thousands of others will be feeling exactly the same as you.

Don’t Panic First things first- don’t panic! This will only make things worse.
If you didn’t do as well as you had hoped, don’t beat yourself
up. Remember you have loads of options. Try to stay positive and think
about what the next best move is for you.

Check UCAS Before you start making any drastic decisions always check UCAS. Even
if you know that you’ve just missed out on the points you need for
your first choice, your insurance option may have accepted you. Don’t
automatically assume that you haven’t got in.

It’s also always worth ringing your first choice of university even
if you didn’t get the grades. They may be able to offer you an alternative
course to the one you originally applied for, otherwise known ‘changed
course offers.’ For example you may have applied for a psychology
course and be offered psychology and sociology combined. This is definitely
worth considering, especially if that university was particularly appealing to you.

Clearing Often universities will operate special clearing hotlines around exam
results day. Don’t rule it out- you might even find a course that
is actually more suited to you. On the other hand, never choose a course
just for the sake of it. Remember you will invest a lot of your time and
money in university, so being confident in your decision is a must.

Re-apply If you have your heart set on university then remember you can always
apply again next year. There is no age limit or time frame which you should
attend. Another benefit of doing this is that you already know your grades
before you apply, so can make more realistic choices.

Re-take Re-sitting modules or exams is always an option and is a wise choice,
especially if you have done well in the majority of your other units.
Perhaps think about the reasons why you might have not received the results
that you’d hoped for. By identifying where you went wrong should
help you work towards ensuring better grades the second time. For example
did you not put the work in? Was there an area you really struggled with?

Re-evaluate When things don’t go to plan sometimes the best thing to do is re-evaluate
where you’re heading and what you want to do. Really take some time
to think about all of your options. Is taking the academic route actually
best for you? Would you perhaps be better suited to employment-based training?
There are tons of paid apprenticeships available in the UK, which really
help you get on the career ladder.

Take a gap year Taking a gap year is always a great and rewarding adventure to consider.
Just make sure that you are doing it for the right reasons and not because
your friends are. Don’t forget, there is plenty of time to travel
after uni or during the long summer breaks.

Get a job/Internship Remember university isn’t for everyone. Getting a job/internship
and building your skills up out in the industry might be the option that
suits you best.

Yourresults don’t define you Whatever you decide, remember that your results don’t define who
you are. Try and keep your head clear, stay positive and work through
all of your options. Most importantly- take your time!